Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-16
P0ST-PRANDIAL PALAVER
AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF GOTH
AMPS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Letters from the President, Senator she--
man, and Governor Hill and . Speech
by Joseph Chamberiain-A Plea for
PAace and Suggestion That We Have a
Few Problems Yet to Solve.
NEW York, Nov l6-The annual dinner
of the chamber Of commerce. was held Tues
day evening at Delmonico's Covers were
laid for 2l2 guests. President Charles s.
Smith, of the chamber presided At his
right sat Secretary of the Treasury Fair
child and at his left Secretary Of the Interior
Lamar. To the right of Secretary Fairchild
were Rt Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Chaun-
cey M. Depew, Sir George Campbell, and
Others. To the left Of Secretary Lamar were
Mayor Abram s Hewitt, James G. Carter,
Haley Stewart NJ. P. Carl Schurz, Maj
Gen. J. M. Schofield, Congressman s. s. Cox,
and James M. Brown. The other tables were
occupied by a brilliant assemblage of the
brains and wealth of the city and country.
Three hours were devoted to the discussion
of the creature comforts provided, and then
letters were read from President Cleveland,
Senator Sherman and Governor Hill The
president expressed his regret at his inability
to attend and said that one of the most i'm
portant missions of government was the
stimulation and protection Of the activities
Of the country. He continued:
This relation between government and business
suggests the thought that the members of such
associations yours owe to themselves, and TO
all the people of the land, thoughtful discharge
of their political obligations. guided by their
practical knowledge of affairs. to the end that
there may be impressed upon the administration
of our government business character and tend
ency free from the diversion of passion, and un-
moved by sudden gusts OF excitement.
Senator Sherman wrote that the most i'm
| portant subject for future consideration, per-
| haps, was the extension Of our commerce,
| and Gov. Hill simply expressed his regrets
| that he could not attend.
| To the toast to THE President" Secretary
Lamar responded He said: Il have been
| recently so closely related with the president
that found myself asking him what should
say on this occasion. Said he: Remind the
| gentleman that the two great questions are
| a national representative of the great coun-
| try here and a national commerce which
shall represent the United States The gen.
tlemen should exact the exercise Of the same
qualities here which enabled them to elevate
the commerce of their proud metropolis Let
me offer volunteer toast: To the gentle
men of the chamber of commerce, held in
high estimation in all the cities of every part
of the United States
Mr. Lamar stated his belief that our for
eign commerce is increasing, but our tonnage
decreasing. He ascribed this principally to
the protective system. He predicted that we
would yet become the leading commercial
nation of the world
The toast, ''The Queen of Great Britain. I"
was drunk standing. and then Chauncey M.
Depew responded to the toast OF "The United
States; with Government by the People
and for the People, They are the Friends of
Honest Labor, the Enemies of Anarchism. "
Mr. Depew, in the course of his remarks said
the question of the survival of our govern
ment had just been settled in Chicago 1t
had been shown that the velvet glove Of
liberty covers the merciless hand of the law.
On proposing the health of Mr. Chamber
lain President Smith said:
We are very glad to welcome as our guest to
night gentleman still in the prime of life. to
whom fame has come easily whose name is
known wherever the English tongue is spoken
and who, like his colleague, John Bright has al
ways been conspicuous in his friendship for thi.
| country. He has come to us representing Gres,
|
sion, in the hope Of settling question which has
been the cause Of bad blood between our Cana
dian neighbors and an important section of oul
| country. 1t seems TO me, gentlemen, that oui
guest is fully equipped, by long business as wei
as public experience, to accomplish the dssire6
result l ask you, gentlemen, to fll you
glasses and drink to the health of the Ri Hon
Joseph Chamberlain, and to the success of hi
mission.
Mr. Chamberlain said: Il thank you fol
the kindly words in which you have intro
duced me to the chamber. and assure you
! appreciate the honor you have done me in in
viting me to share the hospitality of thi
honorable and representative institution And
if l may be allowed, l should like to take thi
public opportunity to say how much hav,
been touched by the unusual kindness witt
which have been met since l landed Oh
your shores. 1t has deepened the feelings o
good will and regard which have Away
expressed for the people and institutions o
your country. lApplausel l have been ii
my time rather considerable of
traveller on the continent of Europe
but I feel here that although l an
farther away from Europe than eve
before, am yet nearer home among a pee
people whose language and institutions ar
more nearly like those of my own land Tn
Englshman will always find much to intel
est him, much to astonish him, in your cour
try; but, after all, the differences between u
t are less than the resemblances Applause
: and it is only new phase Of the develop
8 ment of our common civilization. am NOR
= than ever impressed with the thought in n
\ gard to these two great nations, whose hi.
4 tory and traditions are our joint heritag
4 and pride, that their general amity an
= good will are the guarantee of the prosper
n ity and progress of the world. [Applause.
: Il am well aware that the kindness wit
4 which have been received IS not due to an
4 personal merit or claim of my own, but it
due to my official position as well as to th
representative and pacific character of til
mission have undertaken bring with m
also to the fulillment of my task, l can a
sure you, the univsT sal sympathy of ever
Englishman whose opinion Is worth havin
[applausel and in the settlement OF the task
feel that neither side will permit an ope
question to remain which might develop int
something which might impair the good r,
lations which have existed hitherto betwee
the two countries which have now bee
brought SO closely together that old pref
dices have disappeared and personal inte
course has gwen increased respect and col
sideration and added friendliness And
do not doubt that we shall be able to sett
q amicably any differences which may hay
arisen GAppiause.]
T. do not look forward to any settlement
y the question which we have to discuss whic
l. shall give undue advantage to either part
y do not think 1t at all likely | could ga
such an advantage in a discussion with Il
o shrewdest nation in the world, but il l cou
5, / would not do it, for it Is not the interest
h any great nation to make q settlement whic
is not satisfactory to all parties concerned
(Applause Such a settlement can be mao
between business men as will he satisfactor
+ if all can lay aside party questions, whis
70 have no reference to the question in disput
m and which will only tend to impair nd pr
s. vent such settlement
y "You know what great events from trivi
70 causes spring. Some Of the fiercest wars ha,
u sprung from petty NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. and it
the highest patriotism to remove the caus
" OF friction, which otherwise might cause
Is ritAtions. appeal to you, gentlemen as re
e resentatives Of the interest which constant
X makes for peace, to strengthen our hands al
II assist us in the settlement Of these question
d have no doubt that the consideration of Il
'r interest you feel in the settlement Of the col
r, troversy between Great Britain and ii
70 United States will prevent obstacles arisin
These two great countries can not afford
have any serious difference for they are tt
-